Article (Scientific journals)
Morphological and ecological complexity in early eukaryotic ecosystems
Javaux, Emmanuelle; Knoll, A. H.; Walter, M. R.
2001In Nature, 412 (6842), p. 66-69
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Abstract :
[en] Molecular phylogeny and biogeochemistry indicate that eukaryotes differentiated early in Earth history. Sequence comparisons of small-subunit ribosomal RNA genes suggest a deep evolutionary divergence of Eukarya and Archaea(1); C-27-C-29 steranes (derived from sterols synthesized by eukaryotes) and strong depletion of C-13 (a biogeochemical signature of methanogenic Archaea) in 2,700 Myr old kerogens independently place a minimum age on this split(2,3). Steranes, large spheroidal microfossils, and rare macrofossils of possible eukaryotic origin occur in Palaeoproterozoic rocks(4-6). Until now, however, evidence for morphological and taxonomic diversification within the domain has generally been restricted to very late Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic successions(7). Here we show that the cytoskeletal and ecological prerequisites for eukaryotic diversification were already established in eukaryotic microorganisms fossilized nearly 1,500 Myr ago in shales of the early Mesoproterozoic Roper Group in northern Australia.
Disciplines :
Physical, chemical, mathematical & earth Sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
Javaux, Emmanuelle  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Paléobotanique - Paléopalynologie - Micropaléontologie (PPM)
Knoll, A. H.;  Harvard University
Walter, M. R.;  Macquarie university (Australia)
Language :
English
Title :
Morphological and ecological complexity in early eukaryotic ecosystems
Publication date :
2001
Journal title :
Nature
ISSN :
0028-0836
eISSN :
1476-4687
Publisher :
Nature Publishing Group, Basingstoke, United Kingdom
Volume :
412
Issue :
6842
Pages :
66-69
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 01 July 2009

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